How To Re-unite America:
The National Dialogue Project & Center

Dorothy said it to her dog Toto in The Wizard of Oz: "I don't think we're in Kansas any more." We've all been through a political "tornado" and find ourselves, in this first presidential campaign in the new century, in a remarkably different world. Clearly, it is no longer "Kansas." But where is the "yellow brick road?" And, who can lead us to the wonderful Land of Oz? Where can our leaders find the mind, the heart, and the courage to provide the quality of government that we desperately seek? These New Times will require New Thinking and New Solutions.

NEW TIMES

Welcome to the Age of Schizophrenia. Our nation is of two minds on virtually everything. The popular TV talk show that features viewpoints "from the left . . . and from the right" has sown "two minds" seeds everywhere. Current levels of frustration, acrimony, confusion, and turbulence are clear evidence of major transformations-in-progress across the entire spectrum of American culture. Just as a sudden lightning bolt in a dark, rainy night momentarily illuminates the land contours and structures, the campaign, election, and now the aftermath "bolts" have given us a rare look at the deeper dynamics that are organizing our present and shaping our multiple futures.

Look at the divisions that have been exposed by "the light." Geographic maps that color code each county reveal a commonweal with vast differences between the midlands and clusters of voting behaviors along the coasts. Bush strides across this inner "traditional" territory while Gore rides the crests along the upper Atlantic and most of the Pacific ocean. One writer describes these differences as "Martha Stewart" vs. "Wall-Mart." Others offer "rural vs. urban" polarities, or even "old-fashioned America" vs. "open, diversity society" differences. The suburbs split evenly between these cultural poles and represented the primary psychological battlegrounds. Stereotypes flourish, often fed by political motives. Images of "good and evil" have proliferated in some quarters. Symbols are engulfing substance as choreographic emotional displays rally racial and ethnic groups into polarized mini mass minds.

Clearly there are great divides. Men tended to vote one way, woman the other. Blacks en masse supported the Democratic party, as did the bulk of Jewish voters and dedicated union members. Republicans captured most of main street America and "free market" oriented business and corporate interests. Michael Sandel, the Harvard sociologist reported, "The election returns show us a country that is evenly divided, but not deeply divided." Both major parties moved toward the center while claiming their viewswere unique and different. Certainly the personalities and views of George W. Bush and Al Gore reflect strikingly diverse leadership styles and perspectives on the role of government. If you thought, as did Ralph Nader, that they were but two peas in the identical corporate pod, you may be a tad naïve. The differences are profound.

And, which ever candidate takes the oath on January 20th, 2001, he will have a brief "honeymoon" sinceCongress, itself, now reflects this equally balanced "two minds" symmetry. The Senate totters around a 50-50 split. The House hangs by a thread in the GOP camp. If Bush leads in the Electoral College by a cliff-hanger, while Gore enjoys a slim advantage in the popular vote, no one will have a clear mandate. Same goes if Gore surges ahead in Florida. The media has had a field and "ratings" day as this new "issue" provides grist for the mill, in the tradition of the O. J. Simpson and impeachment controversies. Everybody plays the political pinball machine. Each issue, like a silver ball, is injected into the "game" as bells ring and lights flash while various entities score points. The game itself needs "silver balls" to keep it in play.

At this writing the political cul-de-sacs in Florida are spawning tornado-like swirls of destructive behaviors that are endangering the historical national commons. Charges and counter charges; threats and counter threats; and grandstanding and counter-grandstanding have turned the post election crisis into a virtual Tower of Babel. And, history will not be kind to those who "sow the wind," because they will reap "the whirlwind."

Only the media, pundits, airlines, restaurants, and hotels in South Florida appear to be pleased.

Welcome to the Age of National Schizophrenia.

NEW THINKING

We must now allow this moment of illumination to look deeper into our cultural "DNA-like" codes to understand what has created these New Times. At a time when we have stressed egalitarian, inclusion and consensual values in our society, it is ironic that we are experiencing forms of social fragmentation that are unique in our history. Quite frankly, I think Professor Sandel is wrong: There are deep fault lines in our cultural cores. He sees these fragmented pieces as thin, flatlander tiles on the national mosaic and can be easily shifted into new arrangements. I'm convinced the deep level value codes are profoundly different, producing the illusion of "common ground" when it does not exist. Identity politics reign supreme. Class warfare charges are rampant. Majority vs. minority issues explode everywhere, especially along our border zones. The Monolithic, Eurocentric America has now become the Multi Pluralistic Commune, since every experience of life deserves and demands an equal place in the sun, and high visibility slot on CNN. In spite of our peaking prosperity, income gaps continue to frustrate the social engineers. And all of the surveys are suggesting that our affluence has not brought us happiness; just the opposite. How can this be?

If you have the eyes to see and ears to hear, you must be profoundly concerned at what is happening to this country. While I don't want to play any "Chicken Little" game, it would be sheer folly to believe it will be back to business as usual come January. We must use this opportunity to examine these major collision zones, understand how and why they have formed, and have the good sense to head off what could be the formation of deep and foreboding fissures in our national life.

So, what are these deep societal value codes? How are they shifting the cultural tectonic places, creating surface level fragmentation and new polarities? Just as we are tracking our DNA genetic codes in our biological scripts, we can also identify our Value Codes that form our cultural "DNA" beliefs that continue to evolve through levels of complexity. While this is not the time nor place to discuss these Value Codes in more detail, I will include, here, only a superficial description. But thirty years of academic research and eighteen years of intensive application of this concept in South Africa lead me to believe that we should focus more on understanding and dealing with these core Value Systems.

Level Color Code Popular Name Thinking
Cultural Manifestations & Personal Displays

Level 8 TURQUOISE WholeView Holistic
collective individualism; cosmic spirituality; earth changes

Level 7 YELLOW FlexFlow Ecological
natural systems; self-principle; multiple realities; knowledge

Level 6 GREEN HumanBond Consensus
egalitarian; feelings; authentic; sharing; caring; community

Level 5 ORANGE StriveDrive Strategic
materialistic; consumerism; success; image; status; growth

Level 4BLUE TruthForce Authority
meaning; discipline; traditions; morality; rules; lives for later

Level 3 RED PowerGods Egocentric
gratification; glitz; conquest; action; impulsive; lives for now

Level 2 PURPLE KinSpirits Animistic
rites; rituals; taboos; superstitions; tribes; folk ways & lore

Level 1 BEIGE SurvivalSense Instinctive
food; water; procreation; warmth; protection; stays alive

For a more detailed description see Beck & Cowan, Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership & Change (Oxford, Blackwell, l996)

Let me provide several quick examples of how these deep Value Codes are impacting the current post-election controversy. Both parties have moved toward "the center" – one using the language of the "Vital Center" or "Third Way" and the other projecting the image of "Compassionate Conservatism." In short, both have emerged into the GREEN Zone where the values of sharing, caring, community, and feelings are of importance. Pat Buchanan campaigned from the BLUE zone of nationalism and cultural wars. Ralph Nader went much further into the GREEN arena by attacking corporate ORANGE and advocating an egalitarian society. John Haglen spoke from a YELLOW perspective but few could actually understand what he was saying.

Second, the center of gravity of the African American collective is shifting from the PURPLE and RED belief systems into a culture BLUE and strategic ORANGE complex adaptive intelligences. Racial cards are played in a calculated fashion just to get political leverage. And, the media itself plays the ORANGE card in competition for ratings and high status that comes from "being first" with the "late and breaking news." Note the massive voter turnout of African Americans. This coming of age of millions of American is a sign of significant progress in the healthy socialization process. It also brings Jesse Jackson-like political stunts and unprincipled charges of "racism" just to advance political and financial agendas onto the scene.

Finally, Congress typically plays the ORANGE game since "winning re-election" is the ultimate bottom line. Scoring political points, competing for the most clever soundbites, and gaining public relations advantages in the Beltway matter most. Yet, many NGO interests have placed their eggs in the GREEN consensus basket, believing that if we just agree to trust each other, sit endlessly in circles, we can generate harmonious and caring "solutions."

Now, observe carefully the rhetorical tones, flourishes, and themes as reflected in the debates over the Florida controversy. You should detect the following Value Codes. These, rather than the presidential campaign camps, media pundits, or even social commentators are the REAL combatants.

The Rule of Law and Individual Responsibility – Do what is Right. BLUE Value Code
The Pragmatism of Manipulation and Ambition – Win at Any Cost. ORANGE Value Code
The Egalitarianism of Inclusion and Diversity – People Come First. GREEN Value Code

Can you decide who is Code Shouting which theme? Can you detect the underlying Value Code in the various positions on Florida laws, individual vote counts, demands for a re-vote, or even the underlying philosophical views of the Republic and Democrat Parties? Where would you place the lawyers and political operatives? What about the media? Which national TV network reflects which of the Value Codes?